Ignition points



Dec. 8, 1964 M. E. MACKEY 3,160,151

IGNITION POINTS Filed May 6, 1965 IN VENTOR 444mm 5 lune/(Er A TTOP/VEV United States Patent 3,160,153 llGNllTltON PtPIN'ES Marlyn E. Maclrey, r-ssra Norway St, Qoon Rapids, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor of onehalf to Guy States, Anolta, Tallinn.

Filed May 6, rats, No. 278,344 Claims. (Cl. l23-14d.5}

This invention relates broadly to ignition points for use with internal combustion engines; more particularly to ignition points constructed and arranged to automatically retard the ignition timing without altering normal factory recommended timing; and specifically to ignition points having a slidable, eciprocating core point embodied in at least one point of a set of standard ignition points.

The principal object of this invention is to provide ignition points for an internal combustion engine wherein said ignition points in a normal installation in an internal combustion engine may be set accordingly to factory specification for normal engine operation, said points including a movable core point that will automatically retard engine timing for starting purposes.

A further object of this invention is to provide ignition points for an interna combustion engine wherein said ignition points may be installed in a standard distributor without major alteration of said distributor.

Another object of this invention is to provide ignition points for installation in a standard internal combustion engine without any alteration of said engine except to provide an additional ground wire, connected to the movable core point; means to selectively render the normal automatic vacuum control of the spark advance inoperable; and switch control means to energize the movable core point.

A still further object of this invention is to provide secondary ignition points for an internal combustion engine that may be selectively energized in an emergency wherein the standard ignition points are inoperable due to wear, pitting, and corrosion, said secondary ignition points being energized and used until such time as the standard ignition points can be replaced.

A further object of this invention is to provide secondary ignition points for emergent use with low octane gasoline wherein the said secondary ignition points are energized for use to eliminate ignition knoclc and pinging with or without the use of the automatic vacuum control.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selectively energized ignition point for the distributor of an internal combustion engine wherein said secondary point being selectively energized for intermittent use, there is less arcing thereof than in the primary points which are in constant operation thereby offering less resistance to the electric current from the coil.

A further object of this invention is to provide a secondary ignition point for internal combustion engine selectively cooperating with the standard ignition points and affording a sharp hammer break of said ignition points by virtue of the spring loading of said secondary point and the contact of integral stop means on the secondary point with the fixed primary point.

A still further object of this invention is to provide secondary ignition point cooperating with the standard ignition points of an internal combustion engine when said secondary ignition point is rendered operable, the same will retard the timing of any internal combustion engine.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application and in which drawing, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the following devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the low voltage half of a standard distributor for internal combustion engines showing the invention ernbodiedin a standard set of ignition points.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view showing the embodiment of the invention in combination with the standard ignition points.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the elements of the low voltage half of a standard distributor for internal combustion engines with the distributor housing removed and showing the embodiment of the invention with one ignition point of a set of standard points installed in said distributor.

For the purpose of clarity and a fuller understanding of the subject invention it is important to note that hereinafter the regular ignition points of a distributor for m internal combustion engine will hereinafter be referred to as the primary ignition points and the cooperating ignition point that is the subject matter of this application will be referred to as the secondary point.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the dis tributor housing taken as an entirety, will be hereinafter identified by the numeral 5 and of the several elements thereof pertinent to this application it is important to note, the cam d, the point contact arm 7, the fixed arm 8, and the movable mounting plate 9, for the primary ignition point in carried by the cam actuated contact arm 7 and the primary ignition point 11 mounted on the fixed arm 8.

The numeral is directed to the housing for the standard automatic spark advance mechanism, which as shown, is of the vacuum type, and also as shown a conventional needle valve 13 is interposed in the vacuum line 14. As will presently appear it is necessary to shut off the vac uum spark control means selectively at the discretion of the operator and for that purpose remote control means in the form of a fragmentary showing of a flexible cable 15 is shown connected to the needle valve 13'. While it is not shown the other end portion of the said flexible control cable is terminated in a control knob conveniently located adjacent the operator on the instrument panel of the vehicle.

It is important to understand at this point that to gain full advantage of the spark retarding action of the invention it is necessary to deactivate the automatic spark control means normally provided in internal combustion engines, and while-for the purpose of this application, the needle valve 13 in the vacuum line 14 is shown as such means; it will be understood that there are other satisfactory means available to accomplish this.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 3 of the drawing wherein the details of construction and combination of elements is clearly illustrated. In this embodiment of the invention the primary point 10 mounted on the contact arm '7 is standard in every respect.

Forming a part of the primary point 11 mounted on the fixed arm 8 is a secondary ignition point 16 that is mounted for endwise reciprocating movements in an axially disposed insulated central bore 17 extending completely through the primary ignition point 11. An insulating sleeve lid having a stop shoulder 19 has a close pressed fit with the bore 17 in the body of the primary ignition point Ill and its supporting fixed arm 8. The secondary ignition point llti having a stop shoulder 20, is constructed and arranged to move with endwise reciprocating mover, so:

ments within the bore 21 in the insulating sleeve 13, said movements being limited by the stop shoulder 26 This secondary ignition point 16 is spring loaded, which means as shown, is a bent leaf spring 22 which is insulated from the body of the secondary ignition point in by an insulating block 23, said leaf spring 22 being mounted at its fixed end portion on the fixed arm 8 by any suitable means.

The secondary spring loaded ignition point 16 is constructed and dimensioned under its spring loading to extend approximately .004 inch above the face of the primary ignition point 11 in which it is mounted to thus afford means whereby the secondary point 36 will break contact with the primary point 10 on the movable contact arm "i after the primary ignition point 11, under normal adjustment, breaks contact with said primary point it.

A suitable ground connection is provided for the secondary ignition point 16 and an electric switch, not shown, is remotely mounted on the instrument panel of the vehicle whereby the secondary ignition point 16 may be controlled by opening or closing the electric switch at the discretion of the operator. An electrical contact on the secondary point 16 is indicated by the reference numeral 24.

It Will thus be obvious that with the secondary reciprocating ignition point 16 set to protrude .004 inch above the face of the standard primary ignition point 11 the ignition is retarded for starting purposes. It is only necessary to manually shut off the standard vacuum spark control and energize the secondary ignition point 16 unitl said engine is started and thus return the operation of the engine to normal operation by a reverse manipulation of said vacuum and switch control.

While there are herein disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure, process and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated herein or required by the prior art.

What I claim is:

1, An internal combustion engine the improvement in ignition points comprising in combination, a standard set of primary ignition points adjusted according to specification, said standard set of primary ignition points being mounted respectively on a fixed arm and a movable cam actuated contact arm, a secondary ignition point mounted on the said fixed arm and actuated simultaneously with said primary ignition points, switch means connected to the said secondary ignition point whereby the same may be selectively energized said secondary point being adjusted to retard the standard spark adjustment when said means is closed, and means associated with the standard automatic spark advance mechanism whereby the same is rendered inoperable when the secondary point is energized.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the said secondary point may be mounted on the movable cam actuated contact arm.

3. In an internal combustion engine the improvement in i nition points comprising in combination, a standard set of primary ignition points adjusted according to specification said standard set of primary ignition points being mounted respectively on a fixed arm and a movable cam actuated contact arm, a secondary ignition point mounted for endwise reciprocating movements in a bore in the standard ignition point mounted on the fixed arm, means for spring loading the said secondary ignition point whereby the same is normally projected above the contact face of the said primary point, remote electric switch means connected to the said secondary ignition point whereby said electric switch may be selectively opened or closed to energize or render inoperable the secondary ignition point, and remote manual means whereby the standard automatic spark control mechanism of an internal combustion engine may be rendered inoperable when said secondary ignition point is energized, to retard the spark of the ignition system of said internal combustion engine.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the standard primary ignition point is provided with an axial bore for mounting the secondary ignition point for spring actuated reciprocating endwise movements, said secondary ignition point being mounted and adjusted in said bore to protrude above the surrounding face of the said primary ignition point to thus retard the spark when said secondary ignition point is energized.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein the said secondary ignition point is selectively energized and the primary ignition point is normally energized at all times during the operation of the internal combustion engine, the said spring loading of the secondary ignition point projecting above the face of the primary ignition point will cause the secondary point to contact break with the primary point on the movable contact arm after contact of the primary point on the fixed arm, thereby, automatically retarding the spark.

No references cited. 

1. AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE THE IMPROVEMENT IN IGNITION POINTS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A STANDARD SET OF PRIMARY IGNITION POINTS ADJUSTED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATION, SAID STANDARD SET OF PRIMARY IGNITION POINTS BEING MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON A FIXED ARM AND A MOVABLE CAM ACTUATED CONTACT ARM, A SECONDARY IGNITION POINT MOUNTED ON THE SAID FIXED ARM AND ACTUATED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH SAID PRIMARY IGNITION POINTS, SWITCH MEANS CONNECTED TO THE SAID SECONDARY IGNITION POINT WHEREBY THE SAME MAY BE SELECTIVELY ENERGIZED SAID SECONDARY POINT BEING ADJUSTED TO RETARD THE STANDARD SPARK ADJUSTMENT WHEN SAID MEANS IS CLOSED, AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STANDARD AUTOMATIC SPARK ADVANCE MECHANISM WHEREBY THE SAME IS RENDERED INOPERABLE WHEN THE SECONDARY POINT IS ENERGIZED. 